Improvement in car-couplings



M. M. BROWN, D'. 13.-,'MART1N RR. GILBERT.

' cR-R-co'UPLINR. N.177,2.oo. A:melma May 9,1876.

l Fly-f f, (CI-? umm UNITED STATES A PATENT OEEIO'E.

MORTIMER M. BROWN AND DAvID D. MARTIN, `OF ONEIDA, AND HARVEY GILBERT, OE GILMAN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CvAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.` 177,200, dated May 9, 1876; application led February 2,1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MORTIMER M. BROWN and DAVID D. MARTIN, of Oneida, Knox couilty, Illinois, and HARVEY GILBERT, of Gilman, Iroquois county, same State, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar- Gouplings, of which the following is a speciiication:

Our invention relates to carcouplers, our object being to provide a device which can be used for coupling or uncoupling railroad-cars without danger to the operator, and which can be operated with equal facility from either side -of the car, or from the platform or roof, as occasion requires.

' The invention consists in certain new andv improved devices and combinations of devices, whereby the desired object is accomplished, and the coupling and uncoupling of the cars are effected in a simple and certain manner.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of the end of a railroad-car, showing the draw-head in section, and provided with our improved coupling devicethe coupler raised to permit of the uncouplin g of the cars, and suspended so that the cars will not couple when they come together. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same in section, showing the coupler in position for coupling, and when coupled. Fig. 3 is a detached view of our improved coupling-link, and Figs. 4 and 5 show modifications of the same.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the end of a railroad-car, and B the draw-head. The outer end or opening into this drawhead is made rectangular, with rounded inclined faces a for guiding the coup. ling-link as it enters within the draw-head to couple the cars. The inner end of the drawhead is also rectangular, and made so as to slide back and forth withina box or hollow way formed for its reception in` the body of the car, the extent of its motion in either4 direction being limited by a vertical partition or bar, which extends down through the lower and preventing any sudden check as the cars' come together'. C is a movable yoke, which `tits the -outside of the draw-head on top `and sides, the parts which embrace thc sides having elongated rectangular slots c formed through them,y the one on one side being wider than the other. D is a movable crossbar, which is passed through the slots 0 and through larger elongated slots c formed in the sides of the draw-head. One end ofthe bar D fits the largest of the slots c, and has a head or pro jecting ange, d. The other' end of the bar D is made to tit the smaller slot c, on the opposite side of the yoke C, and has lateral pin or bolt holes through it for the purpose of securing it in position by passing pins Ythrough the holes. The central portion of the bar D is beveled or formed with an incline, d', ex-

tending from its upper front side to itslower' rear side. c is an eye projecting upward from the center of, the upper sides of the yoke C. E is a vertical rod, which passes through eyes or slotted guides e e secured to the end of the car. The lower end of this rod E may be bent so as to project forward at right angles, or another rod, E', may be secured to or connected with the lower end of the vertical rod E, its forward end passing through the eye o on the yoke C. e is a brace connecting and strengthening the rod or rods E E'. F F are rods, the inner ends ol' which are pivoted to the lower end of the rod E. These rods F are passed loosely through holes or slots formed in brackets or standards f secured to the cars. The outer ends of the rods F extend to or near to the sides of the cars. G is a plate secured to and projecting slightly from the end of the car in position between the standards ff. g is a groove or depression formed in the end of the car immediately beneath the plate Gr. H is'a plate having a rounded surface, which is secured to the end of the car some 'distance above and on a line with the plate G. I I are bolt-holes passing vertically through Q immo A similnrlyfformed link, onlythe .slot v does not extend fthe length of` or into gt-hehookediends.

\ It has averticnl pin-hole in one or botli hooked ends. J is a. link having only one hooked end, and a slot extending tothe other end. l

Th e1 operation l of youreonpling devieeuisaes follows: The yoke C, withitsflmeled,Grossi` `bnr D, is free to rise and fall, the slots in the sides of' the draw-head" being long `enough to permit of sufficient motion. Beingrimpositionf as shown by Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, the hooked end of the `enteringlink will come in Contact with thebeveledgfaoe.. of thebenDp andtpufsh: up the yoke and ber until the hook passesgbef youd the ber, when the yoke and bar will fall by their owngravity, and securely couple the earsI automatically, =snteientfplny beingl gi ven toithe link. f

y or 'draws up the centraall rodi` E, thereby rarisin g*the yoke= endlber Velettr above lthe hook-ed end ofthe Elink, endg permitting isthe latten to draw ont.

'2W henitl is desired to keep ytheyoke:nndzbatr in en elevated position,sokthatffltheearsnwill not; couple wlienthey comeftogether,`thelower end V.of the -rod '1E-rests `on lthe plate Gland when "it `is desired Ethat ftheenrs @shall-neonple when they come togethenthe operator presses or draws either of llthe rods uE 'lF-mtoward 'ith'e` car,fthe plete .-H :f acting? esta. i fulerum' for-fthe rod E, and the .standnrdswas fulerumsnfor :th e-:re'ds ffF-,mhe effect bein` gitoalmove thelower end of therodE outward, 1clear ofthe supporting-plate G, when the yoke and bar'will VKffttllintofposition readyfor conpling. The

slots in `the coupling-linksperrnit of their be- Lin g medias :ordinaryi Iihlrsmiuiitlra'ordimlzry.` eauplipggpins.

` Havingthus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to seonre 'by Letters:]?atent,s-is. v El 1. The rods E Eend F, operating in combination with theY supporting-plate Gr, subestantiallyeasf.,and;fomtheppnrposempeeied.

The rods E E and F,`operating in combination with the plate Gqendl the plate H,

and standards f, said plate H and standards i f fior fthetprrrpose specified.

--iln:testimonyithatawelaimithelforegoin@es i our tinnention-weiheveiheneu-nto mixed your signatures.

@Meeuwen@MJ-Jammin". ranma DAM-Antrim. HARVEY GILBERT. 

